Volunteer

Originally I thought I would be able to have my school set me up with a volunteer opportunity. It was one of my main concerns I emailed them prior to reserving a spot with them. Long story short they were of no help, but this has been my only bad experience with them so I won´t complain too much.
So I talked to a lady at Proyecto Mosaico Guatemala. They place volunteers with different organizations and have over 60 ongoing projects. I filled out an information sheet which of course asked my profession. Immediately, she tried to get me to move from Antigua to study Spanish because there was more of a need in two areas (rural) for my profession. I wasn´t comfortable with that (for obvious licensure reasons and I like my family and Antigua) so she gave me a book to look through. Most were still going to require me to take the chicken bus every day to nearby villages to help in daycares or with women´s cooperations. At the last minute she thought of a place here in Antigua that isn´t exactly speech but needs people familiar with special needs (surprise surprise that is where I would be placed huh?) So anyway, starting next week I will work at a school for children with learning disabilities and mental and physical needs from 2:00-5:30. Not sure what I will be doing exactly. Sylvia (my host mom) knows the director and said she is very nice. Her cousin works there in the mornings but it is for typical (but poor I think) kids then. It is a $55 "donation" but well worth it. My blogs may not be as frequent starting next week as a result.
We have the trip planned for this weekend. Another $10 hotel! But I am really bringing this up to talk about travel agents here. They are a hoot. Some are disinterested past getting you to sign up. However, some LOVE to talk to you. I have had two very memorable ones so far. One asked if I would teach him English words if he let me practice some Spanish with him. I agreed and probably spent an hour with him at the agency. Towards the end though all he wanted to know were the cuss words and how to pronounce them correctly. The next is the main guy we have been using, Javier. Every time I go in he has to tell me how white I am, as if I have forgotten or should be surprised by this information. He then goes on to tell me he is just as white as me that he just has been in the sun too much. Yeah right. His family is from Spain and his eyes are green but please I don´t believe him for a second.
I met a guy from San Francisco that is here for a week before doing humanitarian aide with the only gay and lesbian organization he could find throughout Guatemala. He talked to me for a while and then pegged me as being from Texas. He claims I have a slight accent. I thought I had rid myself of it for the most part but I guess not.